The Mariners have shut relievers Matt Brash and Gregory Santos down from throwing in the interim, reviews Ryan Divish of the Seattle Occasions. Neither the group nor Brash would get into specifics relating to his damage, however Divish notes that the M’s don’t consider it to be a severe situation. Brash merely informed Divish that he’s “banged up” and “didn’t really feel nice” after his most up-to-date bullpen session. GM Justin Hollander added that the organizational hope is for Brash to renew a throwing development subsequent week. Santos, in the meantime, is coping with some discomfort close to his teres main muscle that popped up throughout his most up-to-date ’pen session. There’s no particular timetable for his return to throwing.
Whereas the group hasn’t but conveyed vital issues on both participant, each must be watched with a eager eye. Brash quietly emerged as probably the most dominant setup males within the league final season. His 3.06 ERA in 70 2/3 innings is spectacular by itself, however that masks a sensational four-month run to shut out the season.
Brash posted sturdy secondary marks however pedestrian run-prevention numbers within the season’s first two months. However from Memorial Day weekend onward, the righty delivered a 2.36 ERA with a 32.4% strikeout price and 9.7% stroll price. Brash averaged a blazing 98.2 mph on his heater in 2023, saved 4 video games and picked up one other 24 holds. He’s anticipated to be the first setup man for nearer Andres Munoz and is slated for normal high-leverage work; even an absence of reasonable size could be a large blow for the M’s.
That’s additionally true of Santos, whom the Mariners simply acquired from the White Sox earlier this month (in a commerce sending outfielder Zach DeLoach, righty Prelander Berroa and a Aggressive Stability draft decide again to Chicago). The Sox’ acquisition of Santos from the Giants flew below the radar final offseason, however he’d pitched his means into the probably nearer’s position on the South Facet earlier than being flipped to Seattle. Santos pitched 66 1/3 innings in 2023, posting a pointy 3.39 ERA with a 22.8% strikeout price, 5.9% stroll price and 52.5% grounder price whereas averaging 98.8 mph on his fastball. ERA options like FIP (2.65) and SIERA (3.32) usually assist his sudden breakout as an impression reliever.
The group will presumably have updates on each relievers within the days forward, however they’re essential cogs in supervisor Scott Servais’ setup corps. The Mariners have a powerful bullpen and are usually adept at turning low-profile pickups into profitable bullpen arms, however overcoming the lack of each pitchers could be a tall order.
Sadly for the Mariners, Brash and Santos aren’t the one ones banged up. Third baseman Luis Urias isn’t throwing in the interim after experiencing some shoulder irritation whereas taking part in winter ball in his native Mexico this offseason, by way of MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. The group believes it’ll be a short-term situation, however there’s nonetheless no clear timetable as to when he’ll start throwing.
Urias, 26, struggled to a dismal .199/.307/.299 slash in 177 plate appearances with the Brewers and Pink Sox final 12 months however slashed .244/.340/.426 in 1042 plate appearances with Milwaukee from 2021-22. He’s additionally a profession .276/.353/.442 hitter in opposition to lefties. A wholesome Urias could be a superb choice within the brief half of a platoon at both third base or second base, though the acquisition of Polanco at second base paints third base as the plain place for the Urias/Rojas platoon.
If Urias misses any time or is in any respect delayed to begin the season, Seattle may simply keep in-house and provides fellow righty-swinger Dylan Moore some platoon work on the sizzling nook. Moore hasn’t been nearly as good in opposition to lefties as Urias, nonetheless, and placing him in that position would skinny out the group’s bench depth, maybe paving the best way for Sam Haggerty or Samad Taylor to crack the roster. The M’s may additionally simply go along with Rojas on an on a regular basis foundation at third; he has near-identical splits all through his profession.
Kramer additionally notes that right-hander Cole Phillips, the 2022 second-rounder acquired from the Braves within the Jarred Kelenic deal, lately underwent his second Tommy John surgical procedure. Phillips additionally underwent the process throughout his senior 12 months of highschool in 2022, simply months earlier than the draft. He’d been trending up as a possible first-round decide earlier than blowing out his elbow in ’22 and has but to throw a pitch within the execs whereas rehabbing that damage. Sadly, his debut will now be delayed even additional. Phillips gained’t flip 21 till Could, so there’s loads of time for him to get again on observe and develop right into a contributor for the Mariners, however a pair of Tommy John procedures previous to a pitcher’s twenty first birthday is as ominous because it will get for a pitching prospect.
